PHUKET: A disused old prison is being converted into a third field hospital to cope with the growing number of Covid-19 cases in this southern island province, governor Narong Woonciew said on Monday.
Mr Narong said this includes those found during active case-finding in communities and people returning home from outside the province for treatment.
Phuket currently has two field hospitals - one at the Phuket campus of Prince of Songkla University, with 170 beds, and the other at Phuket Rajabhat University, with 300 beds.
Although the beds were not yet fully occupied, a third field hospital would be needed for the growing number of patients, he said.
Mr Narong said an old and unused prison building in Muang district was now being turned into a field hospital with 200-300 beds. Work was expected to be completed by Wednesday.
A community isolation centre was also being set up in tambon Pak Khlok in Thalang district to accommodate Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms.